Car-coupling



(No Model.)

W. G. SMITH & J. E. KOHRER.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 460,225. Patented Sept. 29, 1891.

from the supporting-shoulders.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WVILLIAM G. SMITH AND JOHN E. KOHRER, OF NElV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,225, datedSeptember 29, 1891. Application filed June 17, 1891; Serial No. 396,648.(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM G. SMITH and JOHN E. KOHRER, citizens ofthe United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven andState of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Car-Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to car-couplers, and has for its object to providean automatic carcoupler adapted to couple cars automatically as they arebrought together, and which shall retain the use of the ordinary linkand permit the cars to be easily uncoupled.

The invention consistsin the novel arrangement and combination, with thebuffer and link, of the vertically-swinging coupling-pin and holder andtheir operating devices, and in the construction of the parts, ashereinafter more fully described, and particularly set forth in theclaims.-

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through the buffer, showingthe parts in position for coupling. Fig. 2 is a similar section with theholder disengaged Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section showing theparts in coupled position. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 00,Fig. 3, but showing the parts in coupled position.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the bufier, which is providedwith the usual mouth or recess 13 for the reception of an ordinary link0. Back of its face the buffer is slotted lengthwise to receive acoupling-pin E, carried upon a swinging arm F in its upper part and aholder Gin its lower part, both pivoted or adapted to swing on ahorizontal pin or arborf in the buifer. The couplingpin E is concentricwith the pivotal axis upon which the arm swings, and it terminates in apoint formed by a beveled or inclined surface h on its rear side, asshown. The arm F is formed with a lengthwise slot 2', extending forwardfrom the pivot-pin f, the rear end 2' of the slot comprising thehearing, which receives the strain upon the coupling-pin. A half-box jis fitted in said slot, with its inner side adapted to the pivot-pin f,and a spiral spring or elastic coil is is received in the slot, bearingbetween the forward end thereof and the half-boxj to hold the arm, withthe bearing 2' in contact wit-l1 the pin f, except when the strain onthe arm is rearward, as in backing a train,in which case the said springwill allow the arm to yield until the buffers are brought together.

In each ear Zof its forked end the holder G has a slot Z, extendingforward from the pivotpin f, by which a certain amount of lengthwisemotion is permitted the .said holder. The weight of the holder retainsit normally with the rear end of the slot in contact with the pivot-pin,except when displaced therefrom, as hereinafter described. The forwardor depending end of the holder is provided with an upwardly-extendingpart m, adapted normally to support the coupling-pin. The rear side m ofsaid extension is inclined, as shown, and an inclined surface in isprovided on the lower side of the holder, facing rearwardly. Alocking-pin n is fastened transversely through the lower part of theholder, projecting on each side thereof, and a pair of projections it onthe lower side of the buffer form supporting-shoulders for the saidlocking-pin to rest on to retain the holder in its elevated position.The rear side of said projections are eccentric to the pivotal pin f,and thus when elevated from the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4: thelocking-pin in moving along the said inclines will carry the holderrearwardly, thus sliding it on the pivotpin f until the locking-pin isbrought above the upper surface of the projections, when it will slideforward and rest upon the projections, as hereinafter described.

Inserted through the lower part of the buffer is a pin 19, supporting aforked operatingarm 19, which at its lower end is provided with atransverse bar 19 carrying a suitable roller 19*, or, if desired, theroller may be dispensed with, the transverse part 13 being formedintegral with the side portions of the 5 arm. A chain r or suitable rodsare connected to the said arm and arranged in position for readilyraising the arm from its pendent position. (Shown in Fig. 3.) As thesaid arm is swung upward it will carry the holder up until thelocking-pin is elevated above the projection 72, when the transversepart of the arm bearing upon the inclined part m will slide the holderforward, leaving the stud resting upon said projections. The arm 19 maythen be dropped, and the mechanism will be ready for coupling.

In operation, the link being set in one of the buffers, as shown in Fig.3, as the cars are brought together the link will strike the holder ofthe opposite buffer, as shown in Fig. 1, thus pushing it rearwardlyuntil the looking-pin is disengaged from the projection 01', as shown inFig. 2. The arm F will then drop, and the coupling-pin E will fallthrough the link, as shown in Fig. 3. The cars will then be securelycoupled. To uncouple the said mechanism it is only necessary to raisethe arm to bring the holder and hook into the position shown in Fig. 1,when by starting the car ahead the link will readily be drawn out fromengagement with the-coupling-pin and holder, the inclined surfacesthereon readily insuring such action. It is preferable to proportion theslot T in the upper part of the louder so that the forward edge of thepin E will bear thereon to receive the strain, and in the sides of theholder-slot V grooves 11 are preferably formed for the pins n to travelin against an upper flange to hold said pins from being jarred fromtheir seats on the shoulders n. It is also preferable to provide a casey over the slot T and arm F to exclude rain and dirt from the mechanismand prevent the formation of ice therein.

We claim as our invention- 1. In car-coupling mechanism, the combinationof a buffer having a longitudinal cavity or recess to receive thecoupling-link, and vertical lengthwise slots opening into said recessthrough the upper andlower sides of the buifer, arock-arm hinged orpivoted to swing vertically in said upper slot and provided with acoupling pin or hook upon its outer end, a holder pivoted or hinged toswing vertically and slide lengthwise in said lower slot and adapted tosupport the said pin in its elevated or uncoupled position,locking meansfor automatically securing the holder in its elevated position, and alifter or operating means for raising the holder into position forautomatically coupling, as described.

2. In car-coupling mechanism, the combination of a buffer having alongitudinal cavity or recess to receive the coupling-link, and verticallengthwise slots opening into said recess through the upper and lowersides of the buffer, a rock-arm hinged or pivoted to swing vertically insaid upper slot and provided with a coupling pin or hook upon its outerend, a holder pivoted or hinged to swing vertically and slide lengthwisein said lower slot and adapted to support the said pin in its elevatedor uncoupled position, a locking pin or projection carried on saidholder, a supporting-shoulder on the buffer adapted to engage saidlocking projection to support the holder in its raised position,engaging guiding-surfaces on the buffer and holder adapted to guide thesaid locking pin or projection over or upon said supporting-shoulder inits upward travel, and lifting or operating means for lifting the holderand thrusting it lengthwise to engage its locking-shoulder with the saidsupporting-slot to hold the parts in position for automatic coupling, asdescribed.

In car-coupling mechanism,the combination of thebufferhavingalongitudinal cavity or recess to receive the coupling-link,and the vertical lengthwise slots opening into said recess through theupper and lower sides of the buffer, a spring-actuated yielding rockarmhinged or pivoted to swing vertically in said upper slot and providedwith a link pin or hook at its outer end, a holder G, pivoted or hingedon a horizontal pin in the buffer to swing vertically in saidlower slotand slotted to slide lengthwise on its pin, said holder having theextension m, adapted to support the link-pin when at the outer orforward extremity of its lengthwise travel and to disengage therefromwhen thrust rearward, a locking pin or projection on said holder, a

supporting-shoulder on the buffer adapted to 9 engage said locking-pinto hold the link-pin in elevated position, engaging guiding-surfaces onthe holder and buffer to guide the locking-pin over saidsupporting-shoulder in its upward travel, a lifting-arm hinged upon thebuffer and adapted to engage and operate said holder, and an inclinedface or cam upon the holder adapted to be engaged by the lifter toactuate the holder into locked position, all arranged substantially inthe manner and for the purpose setforth.

WVILLIAM Gr. SMITH. JOHN E. KOHRER. Witnesses:

WILLIs BARNES, MARY E. BARNES.

